Calyceal diverticulum simulating a renal tumor.

Calyceal diverticulum (CD) is a rare anatomic anomaly with an incidence of 0.2% to 0.6% in the patients undergoing renal imaging. They are considered benign lesions and malignancy is exceedingly rare. For diagnosis it is suggested to perform a multiphasic contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) evidencing a diverticulum of the pelvicalyceal system with thin-walled cavities communicating with the central collecting system. However, they can be usually mistaken as kidney cancers leading to unjustified nephrectomy. Here, we present a case of a 34-year-old patient who underwent surgery in 2022 due to suspected kidney cancer and histopathological analysis surprisingly reported a CD.

Prognostic Factors in De Novo Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Report From the Latin American Renal Cancer Group.

PURPOSE: To assess the effect of clinical and pathological variables on cancer-specific and overall survival (OS) in de novo metastatic patients from a collaborative of primarily Latin American countries. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Of 4,060 patients with renal cell carcinoma diagnosed between 1990 and 2015, a total of 530 (14.5%) had metastasis at clinical presentation. Relationships between clinical and pathological parameters and treatment-related outcomes were analyzed by Cox regression and the log-rank method. RESULTS: Of 530 patients, 184 (90.6%) had died of renal cell carcinoma. The median OS of the entire cohort was 24 months. American Society of Anesthesiology classification 3-4 (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.64), perirenal fat invasion (HR: 2.02), and ≥ 2 metastatic organ sites (HR: 2.19) were independent prognostic factors for 5-year OS in multivariable analyses. We created a risk group stratification with these variables: no adverse risk factors (favorable group), median OS not reached; one adverse factor (intermediate group), median OS 33 months (HR: 2.04); and two or three adverse factors (poor risk group), median OS 14 months (HR: 3.58). CONCLUSION: Our study defines novel prognostic factors that are relevant to a Latin American cohort. With external validation, these easily discerned clinical variables can be used to offer prognostic information across low- and middle-income countries.

Characteristics and Surgical Outcomes in Very Elderly Patients (≥75 years) with Renal Cell Carcinoma: Data from the Latin American Renal Cancer Group.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is increasing globally due to an aging population and widespread use of imaging studies. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics and perioperative outcomes of RCC surgery in very elderly patients (VEP), ≥ 75 years of age. METHODS: This is a retrospective comparative study of 3656 patients who underwent the treatment for RCC from 1990 to 2015 in 28 centers from eight Latin American countries. We compared baseline characteristics as well as clinical and perioperative outcomes according to age groups (less than 75 vs. ≥75 years). Surgical complications were classified with the Clavien-Dindo score. We performed logistic regression analysis to identify factors associated with perioperative complications. RESULTS: There were 410 VEP patients (11.2%). On bivariate analysis, VEP had a lower body mass index (p less than 0.01) and higher ASA score (ASA > 2 in 26.3% vs. 12.4%, p < 0.01). There was no difference in performance status and clinical stage between the study groups. There were no differences in surgical margins, estimated blood loss (EBL), complication, and mortality rates (1.3% vs. 0.4%, p = 0.17). On multivariate regression analysis, age ≥75 years (odds ratio [OR] 2.33, p less than 0.01), EBL ≥ 500 cc (OR 3.34, p less than 0.01), and > pT2 stage (OR 1.63, p = 0.04) were independently associated with perioperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical resection of RCC was safe and successful in VEP. Age ≥75 years was independently associated with 30-day perioperative complications. However, the vast majority were low-grade complications. Age alone should not guide decision-making in these patients, and treatment must be tailored according to performance status and severity of comorbidities.

Characteristics and Surgical Outcomes in Very Elderly Patients (≥75 years) with Renal Cell Carcinoma: Data from the Latin American Renal Cancer Group

Background: The incidence of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is increasing globally due to an aging population and widespread use of imaging studies. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics and perioperative outcomes of RCC surgery in very elderly patients (VEP), ≥75 years of age. Methods: This is a retrospective comparative study of 3656 patients who underwent the treatment for RCC from 1990 to 2015 in 28 centers from eight Latin American countries. We compared baseline characteristics as well as clinical and perioperative outcomes according to age groups (<75 vs.≥ 75 years). Surgical complications were classified with the Clavien-Dindo score. We performed logistic regression analysis to identify factors associated with perioperative complications. Results: There were 410 VEP patients (11.2%). On bivariate analysis, VEP had a lower body mass index (p < 0.01) and higher ASA score (ASA >2 in 26.3% vs. 12.4%, p < 0.01). There was no difference in performance status and clinical stage between the study groups. There were no differences in surgical margins, estimated blood loss (EBL), complication, and mortality rates (1.3% vs. 0.4%, p = 0.17). On multivariate regression analysis, age ≥75 years (odds ratio [OR] 2.33, p < 0.01), EBL ≥ 500 cc (OR 3.34, p < 0.01), and > pT2 stage (OR 1.63, p = 0.04) were independently associated with perioperative complications. Conclusions: Surgical resection of RCC was safe and successful in VEP. Age ≥75 years was independently associated with 30-day perioperative complications. However, the vast majority were low-grade complications. Age alone should not guide decision-making in these patients, and treatment must be tailored according to performance status and severity of comorbidities. (REV INVEST CLIN. 2020;72(5):308-15)

Small renal masses in Latin-American population: characteristics and prognostic factors for survival, recurrence and metastasis - a multi-institutional study from LARCG database.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate demographic, clinical and pathological characteristics of small renal masses (SRM) (≤ 4 cm) in a Latin-American population provided by LARCG (Latin-American Renal Cancer Group) and analyze predictors of survival, recurrence and metastasis. METHODS: A multi-institutional retrospective cohort study of 1523 patients submitted to surgical treatment for non-metastatic SRM from 1979 to 2016. Comparisons between radical (RN) or partial nephrectomy (PN) and young or elderly patients were performed. Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests estimated 10-year overall survival. Predictors of local recurrence or metastasis were analyzed by a multivariable logistic regression model. RESULTS: PN and RN were performed in 897 (66%) and 461 (34%) patients. A proportional increase of PN cases from 48.5% (1979-2009) to 75% (after 2009) was evidenced. Stratifying by age, elderly patients (≥ 65 years) had better 10-year OS rates when submitted to PN (83.5%), than RN (54.5%), p = 0.044. This disparity was not evidenced in younger patients. On multivariable model, bilaterality, extracapsular extension and ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) classification ≥3 were predictors of local recurrence. We did not identify significant predictors for distant metastasis in our series. CONCLUSIONS: PN is performed in Latin-America in a similar proportion to developed areas and it has been increasing in the last years. Even in elderly individuals, if good functional status, sufficiently fit to surgery, and favorable tumor characteristics, they should be encouraged to perform PN. Intending to an earlier diagnosis of recurrence or distant metastasis, SRM cases with unfavorable characteristics should have a more rigorous follow-up routine.

Nephron-sparing surgery: our experience in open and laparoscopic approach in 254 cases.

OBJECTIVES: The majority of renal cell carcinomas are now incidentally detected as small renal masses in asymptomatic patients due to the widespread use of ultrasound and new improved noninvasive abdominal imaging modalities. Nephron-sparing surgery is the treatment of choice for patients with small renal masses in presence of normal contralateral kidney or in presence of an anatomic or functional solitary kidney. We reviewed retrospectively our experience in open and laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. METHODS: The records for all patients who underwent nephron-sparing surgery for a renal mass since 1995 at British Hospital of Buenos Aires and Hospital Aleman and since 2000 at Hospital Universitario Austral were reviewed. The most relevant data of 246 patients were collected, with special focus on demographic data, operative details, pathology results, complications and outcome in cancer control. RESULTS: We have performed 254 nephron-sparing surgeries. Open partial nephrectomy was performed in 220 procedures and the laparoscopic partial nephrectomy since 2001 in 34 patients. The indication was elective or relative in 236 patients with 8 patients with bilateral tumors and 18 tumors in a solitary kidney. The pedicle was clamped in 168 procedures with hypothermia in 43 patients. Mean ischemia time was 24.7 minutes. Average tumor size was 3.49 cm. The pathologic findings demonstrate a carcinoma in 193 cases and benign lesions in 61 patients (24%). One patient presented a positive surgical margin in the pathologic examination, but subsequent nephrectomy was negative for residual tumor. One patient presented a pseudo-tumoral mass on follow-up on CT scan and MRI, but nephrectomy was negative for residual tumor. There were postoperative complications in 20 patients (7.9 %). Oncologic follow up was available in 84% of the patients for an average of 46.6 months showing progression with metastasis in 8 patients. Local recurrence was observed in 4 patients (2%). One patient developed a tumor in the contralateral kidney 20 months after partial nephrectomy and another one 10 years later. The cancer specific survival and overall survival rates were 98 % and 95% respectively. In the last year the laparoscopic approach duplicated the indications of all previous years. CONCLUSIONS: Open partial nephrectomy is considered nowadays the gold standard treatment of small renal masses, and in our experience it is a safe and effective technique of treatment of these tumors. The evolution of the technology and the acquirement of laparoscopic skills allow us in selected cases to duplicate the open approach in a laparoscopic way, obtaining similar results.

Nefrectomía parcial a cielo abierto y laparoscópica: Nuestra experiencia en 254 cirugías / Nephon-sparing surgery: our experience in open and laparoscopic approach in 254 cases

OBJETIVOS: La mayoría de los tumores de riñón se detectan actualmente como una masa renalpequeña en pacientes asintomáticos, por el uso generalizado de la ecografía y otras modalidades no invasivas de exploración abdominal. La cirugía conservadorade riñón de estas masas renales pequeñas es el tratamiento de elección, tanto en pacientes con el riñón contralateral sano como en aquellos pacientes que presentanalgún grado de deterioro en la función renal o son monorrenos funcionales o anatómicos. Revisamos retrospectivamente nuestra experiencia en cirugía conservadorade riñón en masas tumorales, a cielo abierto y por la vía laparoscópica.MÉTODO: Se revisaron las historias clínicas de aquellos pacientes a los cuales se diagnosticó una masa ocupanterenal y se los trató con cirugía conservadora renal en el Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires y Hospital Alemán desde el año 1995 y el Hospital Universitario Austral desde el año 2000. Se tabularon todos los datos de interés de 246 pacientes, se analizaron las técnicas empleadas,complicaciones y resultados y se compararon con otras series de referencia.RESULTADOS: Se realizaron 254 cirugías conservadorasde riñón. La cirugía a cielo abierto fue realizada en 220 casos y la nefrectomía parcial laparoscópica desde el año 2001 en 34 pacientes. La indicación fue electiva o relativa en 236 pacientes, 8 pacientes presentaron tumores bilaterales y hubo 18 cirugías en pacientes monorrenos. El clampeo del pedículo se realizóen 168 procedimientos, con hibernación en 43 pacientes con un tiempo promedio de 24,7 minutos...(AU)

OBJECTIVES: The majority of renal cell carcinomas are now incidentally detected as small renal masses in asymptomatic patients due to the widespread use of ultrasound and new improved noninvasive abdominal imaging modalities. Nephron-sparing surgery is the treatment of choice for patients with small renal masses in presence of normal contralateral kidney or in presence of an anatomic or functional solitary kidney. We reviewed retrospectively our experience in open and laparoscopic partial nephrectomy.METHODS: The records for all patients who underwent nephron-sparing surgery for a renal mass since 1995 at British Hospital of Buenos Aires and Hospital Aleman and since 2000 at Hospital Universitario Austral were reviewed. The most relevant data of 246 patients were collected, with special focus on demographic data, operative details, pathology results, complications and outcome in cancer control.RESULTS: We have performed 254 nephron-sparing surgeries. Open partial nephrectomy was performed in 220 procedures and the laparoscopic partial nephrectomy since 2001 in 34 patients. The indication was elective or relative in 236 patients with 8 patients with bilateral tumors and 18 tumors in a solitary kidney. The pedicle was clamped in 168 procedures with hypothermia in 43 patients. Mean ischemia time was 24.7 minutes. Average tumor size was 3.49 cm...(AU)

Tratamiento laparoscópico del varicocela: resultados iniciales / Varicocele laparoscopic treatment

La prevalencia del varicocele en pacientes evaluados por infertilidad es del 34 por ciento. Los métodos de tratamiento utilizados incluyen el abordaje alto retroperitoneal, el abordaje inguinal y la embolización percutánea. Se presenta la experiencia obtenida en 33 pacientes con varicocele que fueron operados utilizando la técnica laparoscópica. No se presentaron complicaciones operatorias y los resultados iniciales parecen demostrar que la ligadura laparoscópica de las venas espermáticas es un tratamiento efectivo, que tiene menor morbilidad postoperatoria

Tratamiento laparoscópico del varicocela: resultados iniciales / Varicocele laparoscopic treatment

La prevalencia del varicocele en pacientes evaluados por infertilidad es del 34 por ciento. Los métodos de tratamiento utilizados incluyen el abordaje alto retroperitoneal, el abordaje inguinal y la embolización percutánea. Se presenta la experiencia obtenida en 33 pacientes con varicocele que fueron operados utilizando la técnica laparoscópica. No se presentaron complicaciones operatorias y los resultados iniciales parecen demostrar que la ligadura laparoscópica de las venas espermáticas es un tratamiento efectivo, que tiene menor morbilidad postoperatoria (AU)